Once again...I'm a slacker

So....I've changed the name of my blog, so it's now our family blog. I never did post much as a rookie firefighter, and since I'm no longer a rookie I thought it was time for a change. So be looking forward to the new blog and posts!!

Once again I've been slacking on this...

Things have been hectic at best! Been fighting a little bit of fire and training like no body else!

I'll be going to Idaho in about a month spending two whole weeks with my family and friends!

I'll try to get better about posting on here...just not sure who actually reads this, if anybody!

Catching up....again!

I haven't been keeping up with my blog very well and I'm gonna recommit for like the 17th time.

Gracie's first tball game is today! She's been practicing and its a lot of fun to watch! I'll hopefully get some video and pictures and get them up here!

Relief driver school

Tomorrow we start our week long relief driver shool. I already looking forward to getting it over with so I can get back out on company!

3 Alarm Fire

This morning we had a 3 alarm fire. Engine 4 and Engine 5 were first in. This was by far the biggest fire I've had so far.




http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=9738621



http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Historic-synagogue-catches-fire-in-early-morning/Ijx9qca1fUKweg4xq-imaA.cspx

First shooting

I had my first shooting the other night. I traded shifts with a guy and got sent over to Station 5 for the day and ended up on a shooting call.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=9652871

Night of Dumpster Fires

So last night we had a busy night putting out dumpster fires. The first one we had was caught on video by the News on 6. The second one should have been, cause it was a huge one. Anyways, heres the link and a video.

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?s=9644621

Happy Anniversary!!

I'm a few days late on doing this, but I guess its better late than
never. December 31, 2007 Melissa and I were married, and as we pass the
first year I'm am so thankful for all she has given me. Without her and
her support I don't think I would be the man I am now. She's a terrific
mother and wife. I love you baby!
--Nick Cates

Christmas Cookies!

Since I go back to the station tomorrow, we made cookies for Santa and
some to take to the guys. We got them all cooked and then turned the
kids loose on decorating a few of them.

--Nick Cates

End of Probatation

So yesterday I took my End of Probatation test. I passed with a 99%!! Now that all the studing for that is over, and I thought I would have some more time at the station...I was WRONG! Now I get to start studing for relief driver. I have to start reading a couple of books and learn everything about pumping, which is alot of math...so I'm screwed! I'm pretty excited to get started, and I'm gonna hit it hard so I can try to be one of the first to get my relief driver certification.

"Engine 4, District 1 House Fire"

So yesterday we had a pretty busy shift. I had my first, true first in house fire. It was a detached garage they converted into a small apartment. It wasn't much of a fire, but it gave us something to do. All total we had two working fires yesterday and a couple that were fires but we never got out of the truck. It was one of the busiest shifts I've had since I've been out.

Most of the calls came in through the night. So, we didn't get much sleep last night. Which seems to be happening alot latly.

On other news Landon has pneumonia, but it isn't too bad. Melissa took him to the doctor yesterday and said he is in the begining stages of it. So he's on some antiboditics for 3 days and some cough medicine. He seems to be feeling alot better today than he did yesterday, so seems the medicine is working.

Worn out

I haven't been home in 6 nights, it's gonna end up being 8 nights before I sleep in my bed again.

I've just been working ALOT. I've worked over on "C" shift now for two shifts in a row. It's nice since I'm making a little extra money for the holidays, but I miss my family.

I can't wait to be home tomorrow, so I can at least see them during the day.

Thanksgiving Shift

I had the pleasure of working this Thanksgiving. We made a real big dinner and had all of our families up to the station. Unfortunatly, we were kindof busy.

Here are a few links to check out:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081127_11_0_Arollo219058



http://www.kjrh.com/content/news/breaking/story.aspx?content_id=b3593808-9f12-4b45-9383-7bd4c890054a

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=9423781&nav=menu682_2

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1108/573421.html

Doctor's Appointment

We had our monthly doctor's appointment today. Everything is going
great. We took the kids along just so they could see Olivia inside their
Mom's belly. It looks like she wil make her grand entrance Feb 27th.
--Nick Cates

Busy Week Of Nothing

So this week was my city shift. It was nice to have a break, but at the same time, I'm ready to go back to the station. Gracie and Landon both haven't been feeling very well.

We've stayed pretty busy. I've been working some extra shifts at AeroCare since I have the time. Melissa has a doctors appointment tomorrow. We went and picked up the pictures of Santa and the kids. (I'll put them up when I can) In all that I also forgot my Mom's birthday yesterday. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Are you 50 yet?

Busy Shift

We had a crazy busy night last night. Nothing spectacular, just one of those nights. Luckily, I'm on city shift next shift, so I'm gonna be catching up on sleep and working out. Gonna be a nice week off, so looking forward to it.

Night off!

Normally I would be at AeroCare tonight, but I'm off. So its two whole
days with the family!

I'm sure I'll be ready to go back to the station on Wednesday...
--Nick Cates

BUSY Shift

We had a really busy shift last night/this morning. It was the craziest thing I have ever seen.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=9277046

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1108/566276.html

http://www.newson6.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=3092118&at1=News&h1=Two Killed, Five Injured In Brookside Auto-Ped

Pumpkin Day!

Took the kids to a pumpkin patch earlier today. They had a blast seeing
palletts and palletts of pumpkins. We were able to get some good pics of
the little monsters too.

They each got two "baby" pumpkins as Gracie was calling them. Also got a
big pumpkin we took home and put on the front porch.
--Nick Cates

Pictures from Rescue Training

We had Rescue Taining on the 7th this past month. I was really interesting and I learned alot of stuff. I also got to play with some new toys.

We lifted a mass transit bus, which was a simulation if a car was stuck underneath one. We also lifted the bucket off a backho using a low pressure air bag.

We also got to get out the cutting tourches. I've never used one before so it was really intersting for me learing how to set one up and start it and then actually cutting with it.

Trying to burn some brush out of the way

Henderson cutting stuff up

Just likes to play all he can

Lifting the bus

Weisberg on the controller that lifts the air bags up

The finished product

Henderson is in charge - I'm on the controller

Doin it baby